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What to watch for when applying DWC fabric wall covering

Applying fabric wall covering is not the same as hanging wallpaper since fabric is less rigid. It is also less forgiving and glue stains are harder to remove (if at all).
For this reason we recommend that you use the services of an experienced professional to apply fabric wall covering. We can recommend skilled professionals for the best results. DWC cannot be held responsible for undesired blemishes due to incorrect application of the fabric wall covering.

Preparation

Calculate how many linear metres of fabric you need. Our fabric wall covering rolls are 1.30 metres wide and are available in varying lengths.
When calculating the metres required, take the pattern and pile direction of the fabric into account. Not all fabric wall coverings have a pile direction.
The pile direction is always in the length of the roll. Wipe over the fabric with your hand: if the pile becomes smooth, then you are wiping in the pile direction, on the contrary if you go against the direction of the pile the fibres will stand straight up. To get the best result install the fabric wall covering with the pile pointing down (that is, when wiping from top to bottom you make the pile smooth).
Add a small excess of length for each strip (about 5 cm) for the finishing of the top and bottom edge. After applying the fabric the strips are to be cut off straight with a sharp knife along the baseboard and the top.

Check the rolls before cutting.

Use strips of fabric wall covering from rolls with the same badge number for each wall as there could be small differences in colour per production because it involves fabrics.

Apply the strips in the cutting order.

Take lighting into account and choose the place where to start off with the first strip beforehand.

The importance of a well prepared base must not be underestimated. A good base is essential for beautiful results and to prevent issues that would be difficult or impossible to resolve afterwards.
Make sure that the base meets at least the following requirements:

Smooth: any irregularities on the base could leave a mark. Bumps must be smoothed out, old glue and wallpaper remnants must be removed and holes must be filled and sanded smooth.

Dry: make sure that the reason behind leaks or humidity are known and resolved. New plaster requires a few days to dry completely.

Strong: powdery walls and new stucco must be treated with adhesion primers.

Clean: old wallpaper and glue rests must be removed. The wall must also be dust-free.

Solid colour: differences in colour in the base could sometimes be visible (when using light see-through fabric) after application of the fabric wall covering. Make sure to get rid of the colour differences by applying a thin layer of light paint.

Lightly absorbing: the based must be able to absorb some, but not too much glue. A base that absorbs too much glue, e.g. a new stucco, would not hold properly and it should preferably be treated with a smoothing product or thinned glue. For correct thinning, follow the instructions on the glue package. Let the wall dry for at least 1 day after this. A base with poor absorption properties would also not hold properly and it must be smoothed out beforehand or treated with a binding primer.

Application

Use the right tools: a sharp knife and/or sharp scissors, a plastic spatula and a soft brush. We recommend using a hard edge roller for pressing the seams. Make sure there are no burrs on the spatula that could damage the wall fabric. Always work with clean tools and clean hands.

Never pull loose threads, but cut them carefully with a knife or scissors.

Before applying the glue, always look at the product and decide what direction you want the pile to go. Fabric wall covering is usually applied with the pile going down.

The glue must be applied on the wall and not on the fabric. We recommend using DWC COLFORTE for the best and most powerful adhesive results.

Do not use too much glue to apply the fabric wall covering as it may come through the seams when smoothing out the wall fabric. Too little glue would obviously not hold well. Glue must be evenly applied.

Our wall fabric is not resistant to large blobs of glue, so work carefully and only use clean tools. If a drop of glue ends up on the fabric by accident, clean it immediately with lukewarm water and a microfiber cloth. Never use a detergent or scrubbing pad.
Some types of fabric wall coverings (e.g. silk) are virtually impossible to clean. When applying this kind of fabrics, put absorbing paper (e.g. kitchen towels) on the seam before applying pressure so that excess glue can be absorbed immediately. It is better, however, to use the correct amount of glue and to apply it uniformly to avoid excess glue.

Strips must be applied seam to seam, unless stated otherwise on the label. Take the pattern into account when applicable.

Fabric strips may still be visible with some types of wall fabric, even when the above directions are closely followed. This is usually due to lighting on the pile of the fabric and cannot be avoided. This effect and slight differences in colour per production run are inherent to working with fabrics.